| MEET THE MIXOLOGIST |

What was your first bartending job ? The first place I got behind the bar was a French restaurant here in Nashville . I had worked for the company for two and a half years and opened the restaurant as a server .

After expressing interest in becoming a bartender for a few months , I had a day off and basically told them that I was coming in to train behind the bar . No one protested !

That restaurant has since closed its doors , but I ’ ll never forget the mentors I had and all of the things I learned from my first bartending opportunity .

What is your favorite spirit to work with at the moment ? Tequila . Always tequila . It can act like gin or , if it ’ s aged , like bourbon . I love the versatility of the spirit , and it ’ s just my favorite thing to drink .

Tell us about the Notions cocktails on the menu at Fable . We tried to make something unique while acknowledging the spectrum of the different spirits that we offer . Our

Notions use high-quality ingredients , so we don ’ t have to do much to make them taste incredible . We use a lot of housemade cordials , syrups and oleos to create flavors that you can ’ t find anywhere else .

What are you doing to promote sustainability in cocktails ? Citrus is a huge waste in the bar world ; we strive to use every part of the fruit . After juicing , we use the hulls of the fruits to make oleos and soda syrups , and then the solids get dehydrated and pulverized into edible powders that we use to rim glassware . It ’ s a lengthy process , but the amount of citrus that ends up getting thrown away is negligible .

What ’ s your current go-to cocktail or beverage ? Gin & Tonic ! I ’ ve been using Fords gin at home and Fever Tree tonic water . It ’ s so refreshing during the warm weather .

Would you share one of your favorite cocktail recipes ? Here ’ s one for the Black Widow , which is a berry-basil blanco tequila drink .

BLACK WIDOW

2 oz . Blanco tequila ¾ oz . Lime juice ¼ oz . Demerara sugar syrup 3 Blackberries 3 Basil leaves

Muddle basil and blackberries in a shaker tin . Add all ingredients with ice and shake until the tin is frosty . Using a sieve as well as a strainer , double strain into a coupe or Martini glass . Garnish with basil and a blackberry on a pick .

12 | WINTER 2020 • CHEERS @ HOME